Transforming Welfare and Gender Regimes: Evidence from the UK and Germany

A number of recent studies have demonstrated that European welfare states have not been radically transformed or retrenched by the simultaneous processes of globalization, post-industrial transition and demographic change. Using Pierson's distinction we can see that, from a mainstream perspective, there has been programmatic change, but there is not yet a great deal of evidence of widescale systemic change. From a gendered perspective, however, welfare change appears more systemic and radical. The feminization of the labour market and concerns about gender equality are having a radical transforming effect on welfare states, and on the traditionally strong male breadwinner states in particular. This paper adopts Jane Lewis' proposition that there is currently regime-wide shift towards adult worker model welfare states. It then looks for, and finds, evidence of increasing integration of women into the labour market in the UK and Germany. It also assesses the range of policies that have been introduced to improve the incentives and social infrastructure which enable and support the transition of lone mothers from welfare to work transition in these states.